Carburetor



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. S. LAWRENCE.

h v OARBURETOR.

No. 539,773. Patented May 21, 1895.

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2 Sheets'-Sh eet 2.

(No Model.)

B. S. LAWRENCE.

GARBURETOR.

Patented May 21, 1895.

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'NITED TAT-Es ROBERT s. LAWRENCE, YOF'BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

CARB-URETOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,773, dated May 21, 1895.

, Application filed September 11,1894. Serial NO. 522,704. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom itmay cm wern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT S. LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Carburetors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a carburetor for charging air or gas with hydrocarbon.

In carburetors as heretofore constructed a stationary absorbent body was immersed with its lower portion in the hydrocarbon whereby the latter was lifted by capillary attraction into the upper portion of the absorbent body and presented to the current of air orgas in a vaporized state. This construction of a carburetor is suitable only, for light highly volatile oils, but for heavy or low grade oils this construction is undesirable because such ticaltranverse section of the same in line 4 4,

Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, of the non-conducting filling or insulation.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures. I

A represents a rectangular casing made of copper, zinc, leaded iron, or any other noncorroding material and located in the basement of a building, as shown in Fig. 1, oriri any other suitable place. This case is provided with a vertical transverse partition a extend ing from the top to the bottom and from one side to the other of the casing, thereby form ing a chamber in the front portion of the casing in which the air or gas enriching devices are arranged.

B' represents a horizontal diaphragm arranged in the rear portion of the casing about midway of its height and extending lengthwise from the partition a tothe rear wall and transversely from one longitudinal side to the other of the casing. The chamber 1) below the diaphragm serves as a reservoirin which the carbu'reting oil isstored. This reservoir is provided with a filling pipec opening into the lower portion of the reservoir and a Vent pipe 0 opening into the upper portion of the reservoir. The inlet of the filler pipe is adapted to be coupled with the oil space of an oil supply tank-while the vent pipe isadapted to the amount of oil in the reservoir may be determined. This pipe communicates at its lower end with thelower portion of the oil space, preferably by connecting it with the lower portion of the filler pipe, while its upper end extends above the highest level of the oiland is provided with a screw cap at for closing the same. termine the amount of oil in the reservoir the cap (2 is removed and a glass test tube is inserted partially filled with oil and removed for examination, in the usual manner.

'E' represents an .imperforate cylindrical shell arranged transversely-in the space between the front wall and the partition a of the casing and separated at its ends from the adjacent longitudinal walls of the casing by an inlet chamber c and an outlet chamber 6', respectively. To secure rigidity the shell is secured directly. by soldering at the points where it bears against thecasing and between said points it is connected with the casing by braces e The ends Cf the shell are connected by plates 6 with the adjacent portions of the casing and the partition, so as to separate the spaces between the shell and the casing and partition from the inlet and outlet chambers and convert these spaces into dead air cham- WVhen it is desired to debers. Air or gas is introduced into the inlet chamber 6 by a main supply pipeFhaving a cockf. The lower portion of the partition is provided between the reservoir and the outlet chamber with a number of openings 9 which permit the oil in the reservoir to flow into the outlet chamber, shell and inlet chamber,

wherein it assumes the same level as in the reservoir.

Vithin the cylindrical shell is fitted an enriching drum or cylinder which becomes saturated with oil and through which the air or I gas passes for enriching the same. This drum is constructed as follows:

H represents a transverse shaft arranged axially in the cylindrical shell and j ournaled in bearings h 77. arranged on the longitudinal walls of the casing. This shaft is provided within the shell, near opposite ends thereof, with two open heads or spider wheels I I which are connected with each other near their periphery by tie rods i.

J represents a perforated shell or cylinder fitting within the outer or imperforate shell and secured with its ends to the periphery of the spider wheels. The perforated shell is connected between the spider wheels with the shaft by a number of perforate radial plates j which extend preferablythe' full length of 0 the perforated cylinder.

70 represents perforated heads secured to the outer sides of the spider wheels. The spaces between the perforated shell, the perforated heads and the perforated radial plates are 3 5 filled with wood fiber or some other suitable porous or absorbent material. The fiber in the lower portion of the drum is immersed in the body of oil and becomes heavily saturated therewith while the upper portion, which is 40 above the level of the oil, becomes only partially saturated by capillary attraction.

The gas or air which is introduced by the supply pipe into the inlet chamber passes from the latter'through the upper portion of the enriching drum into the outlet chamber. During its passage through the drum the air or gas absorbs the particles of hydrocarbon which are held in suspension in a finely divided'state by the fiber and becomes enriched thereby.

In order to prevent the gas or air from passing between the outer imperforate shell and the inner perforate cylinder, a packing l of cloth or other suitable material is interposed between these parts and preferably secured to the inner cylinder.

VVhena light or highly volatile oil is employed the capillary attraction, unless retarded by low temperature, is powerful 6o enough to lift the oil intothe upper portion of the drum and saturate the same sufficiently to enrich the gas or air which passes through the drum.

Heavy or low grade oils are less volatile and do not yield as readily to the influence of capillary attraction and it is therefore necessary to raise the heavy oils into the path of the air or gas by mechanical means in order to supply the air or gas with a sufficient amount of hydrocarbon. This is accomplished by turning the drum until the lower submerged portion of the drum is raised into the path of the air or gas and the upper portion of the drum is submerged in the oil. By thus turning the drum a replenished and newly charged portion of the drum is presented to the current of air, while the used or dry portion is being recharged. The drum may be turned either intermittently or continuously. As represented in Fig. 1 of the drawings, one end of the shaft projects outside of the casing and is provided with a pulleym and the latter is connected bya belt 1% with a hand wheel at which latter is suitably mounted in one of the rooms over the basement. When a richer gas or brighter light is desired the drum can be rotated by simply turning the hand wheel. Instead of turning the drum by hand the same may be turned by means of a spring, clock work, water motor or electric motor.

The rotary enriching drum forms a mechanical elevating device whereby the liquid hydrocarbon is elevated from the liquidspace into the air or gas passageandpresented to the passing air or gas for absorption.

In order to=prevent the ,gas from leaking past the bearingh the outer side of thecasing is provided around the shaft with ;a receptacle n which is filled with water-or -glycerine and serves as a seal to prevent leakage past this bearing.

As represented in Fig. 1 my apparatus is arranged for carbureting air and in this arrangement an air blower or forcing'device O of any suitable construction EiS employed for supplying the necessary air. The blower is provided with an inlet pipeo which opens into the outer atmosphere while the outlet of the blower is connected with the iinletpipe F of the carbureter. Instead of carbureting air the apparatus maybe used forienrichingcoal gas, water gas, hydrogen,marsh gas or natural gas. After the air orgas hasbeen carbureted it is then thoroughly mixed, then stripped of its surplus oil andthen atomized by the followingmeans:

P represents an internal jacket of the same material as the casing, which lines all the sides of the space between the diaphragm and the top of the casingexcept the side facing the enriching drum. In order to maintain a low temperature within the jacket a non-conducting .filling Q is placedbetween the jacket and the adjacent parts of the casing and the diaphragm. This filling consists preferably of two layers of asbestosq and a layer of wiregauze or perforated sheet metal q arranged between the layers of asbestos, as represented in Fig. 5. The inner perforated layer forms numerous small air chambers which check the passage of heat into the interior of the jacket and this in addition to the non-conducting property of. the asbestos IIO ' sheets renders the filling practically impervious to heat.

The interior of the jacket is divided by two vertical partitions R B. into a mixing chamber S arranged next to the enriching device, a-stripping chamber T arranged in rear of the mixing chamber and an atomizing or attrition chamber U arranged in rear near its top with the upper portion of the outlet chamber e by means of perforations .9 formed in the partition a. The lower por lieu of the mixing chamber is connected at its opposite end with one endof the stripping chamber by means of openings '1- formed in the partition R. The enriched gas enters the openings s' and passes through the body of wood fiber in the mixing chamber to the outlet thereof,-whereby the air or gas is thoroughly mixed with the hydrocarbon which it has abstracted.

The stripping chamber is filled with a mixture of asbestos wool and wood fibre which mixture is prevented from packing in said chamber by means of vertical perforated plates t similar to the plates .9 in the mixing chamber. 'The diaphragm R is provided near its top with an outlet opening 0" for the stripping chamber, which outlet is arranged on the end of the stripping chamber opposite to that on which the inlet of said chamber is located. As the mixed air or gas and hydrocarbon pass through the stripping chamber the fibrous mixture therein strips the air or gas of its surplus hydrocarbon owing to the low temperatue of the chamber and the ab sorbent property of this mixture. The inlet and outlet openings of the mixing and strip ping chambers are provided with perforated guards '0 which prevent these openings from being choked by the fibrous material in said chambers.

W represents an atomizing or attrition pipe arranged in the upper portion of the atomizing chamber and communicating with the outlet of the stripping chamber. This pipe has the form of an open rectangular frame and is provided along its inner sides with fine spray openings, the openings on one side of the frame facing those of the opposite side. The enriched gas or air passing from the stripping chamber into the atomizing pipe issues from the spray openings thereof which causes the sprays from opposite sides to impinge against each other, thereby atomizing or breaking up the gas or air into minute molecules, which condition is best suited for perfect combustion upon igniting the same. The atomization of the enriched gas or air is promoted by low temperature and for this purpose the lower portion of the atomizing chamber is filled with sticks of charcoal orother carbonaceous material which tends to maintain a uniform low temperature. The under side of the atomizing pipe is provided with a number of drip openings to which permit any condensed hydrocarbon to escape from said pipe into the atomizing chamber.

X represents a covering of cloth or similar absorbent material which rests upon the bottom of the jacket and extends underneath the partitions R R and retaining plates 3 t. This cloth absorbs the hydrocarbon which is separated from the airor gas in the mixing, stripping and atomizing chambers and conducts the same to a return opening y which extends throughthe bottom of the stripping chamber, the jacket, filling and diaphragm and whereby the separated hydrocarbon is carried back into the reservoir. The inlet of return opening y is provided with a perforated guard y which prevents said opening from being choked by the packing in the stripping chamber.,

,2 represents the outlet pipe whereby the carbureted gas or air is drawn off from the atomizing chamber and conducted to the place of consumption. This outlet pipe is provided with a cock 2' for regulating the escape of the carbureted air or gas.

z is a cross pipe connecting the inlet pipe F with the outlet pipe 2 and provided with a cock .2 When the carburetor is in working order the cock of the cross pipe is closed and the cooks of the inlet and outlet pipe are open so that the air or gas is compelled to pass through the carburetor. If the carbutoo retor should get out of order, or it is desired for any other reason, to cut the carburetor out, this is readily accomplished by closing the cocks of the inlet and outlet pipes and opening the cock .2 thereby permitting the 1 gas to pass directlyfrom the inlet to the outlet pipes.

.2 is a branch pipe connecting the cross pipe with the mixing chamber and provided with a cock .2". When it is desired to produce a very rich gas for illuminating purposes the cock of the branch pipe is closed, whichcompels all of the air or gas to pass through the enriching drum but when the gas is to be used for heating purposes the cock of the inlet pipe is partly closed so as to reduce the amount of airor gas passing through the enriching drum and the cock of the branch pipe is opened to permit a portion of the air or gas to pass directly into the mixing ch'am- 1 her, thereby reducingthe richness of the gas and its illuminating qualities without reducing its heating qualities.

By my improved carburetor-the cost of producing carbureted air or gas is reduced considerably owing to the comparatively small cost of low grade hydrocarbons which can be used instead of high grade hydrocarbons. If desired the casing may be entirely covered by a jacket of water, asbestos, cement, charcoal or other suitable non-conductor, whereby the machine is protected against the extremes of heat and cold.

During long continued service at full capacity the capillary attraction is retarded and eventually arrested entirely in carburetors as heretofore constructed owing to the extremely low temperature produced by vaporization. This difficulty is overcome by vmy improved carburetor, in which the elevation of the hydrocarbon of any grade doesnot depend upon capillary attraction, but is effected by mechanical means.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a carburetor, the combination with the inlet chamber, the outlet chamber and the cylindrical imperforate shell connecting said chambers, of a rotary perforated cylinder arranged in said shell and filled with an absorbent material and a packing arranged between the shell and the cylinder, substantially as set forth.

2. In a carburetor, the combination with the casing, of a vertical partition arranged in the casing and forming an enriching chamber in the front end of the casing, a diaphragm arranged in the rear portion of the casing and forming a reservoir below the diaphragm which communicates with the lower portion chamber and having the form of an open frame provided on its inner sides with opposing rows of spray openings, said pipe receiving the carbureted fluid from the mixing and purifying chambers and delivering it through its spray openings into the atomizing chamber, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 8th day of September, 1894.

ROBERT S. LAWRENCE.

Witnesses:

THEO. L. POPP, FANNIE A. BACON. 

